Wireless charging device

ABSTRACT

A wireless charging device includes a casing, a wireless charging module and a fan. The casing has an interior space, at least one air inlet, an air outlet and a support surface. The air inlet and the air outlet are in fluid communication with the interior space, the support surface faces away from the interior space. The support surface has at least one placement region, the placement region is located at one side of the air inlet, and the placement region is configured for the electronic device to be placed thereon. The wireless charging module is disposed in the interior space and corresponds to the at least one placement region. The fan is disposed in the interior space and configured to suck air into the interior space through the at least one air inlet and blow air out of the interior space through the air outlet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Provisional Patent Application No. 63/394,010 filed in U.S.A.,on Aug. 1, 2022, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a charging device, more particular to awireless charging device.

Description of the Related Art

As the development and progress of technology, mobile devices, such assmart phones or tablet computers, can be connected to the vehicle systemthrough application programs (e.g., CarPlay). In order to let users notto worry about the power consumption of mobile devices, wirelesschargers are further applied to the vehicles so that the mobile devicescan be connected to the vehicle system through the application programswhile placed on the wireless chargers for charging.

When a mobile device is placed on a wireless charger for charging, thewireless charger and the mobile device both generate heat. Under theinfluence of these two kinds of heat, the charging efficiency of thewireless charger may be reduced. Therefore, how to solve theaforementioned issue is one of the crucial topics in this field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a wireless charging device which is capable ofpreventing heat generated by itself and the mobile device from adverselyaffecting the charging efficiency.

One embodiment of the invention provides a wireless charging device. Thewireless charging device is configured to charge at least one electronicdevice. The wireless charging device includes a casing, a wirelesscharging module and a fan. The casing has an interior space, at leastone air inlet, an air outlet and a support surface. The air inlet andthe air outlet are in fluid communication with the interior space, thesupport surface faces away from the interior space. The support surfacehas at least one placement region, the placement region is located atone side of the air inlet, and the placement region is configured forthe electronic device to be placed thereon. The wireless charging moduleis disposed in the interior space and corresponds to the at least oneplacement region. The fan is disposed in the interior space andconfigured to suck air into the interior space through the at least oneair inlet and blow air out of the interior space through the air outlet.

According to the wireless charging device as disclosed in the aboveembodiment, the placement region for the electronic device to be placedthereon is located at one side of the air inlet, such that when the fansucks air into the interior space through the air inlets, the airflowcan firstly pass by the electronic device to cool the electronic device,then the airflow enters into the interior space to cool the wirelesscharging module. Therefore, the electronic device and the wirelesscharging device can be maintained in desired temperatures formaintaining the charging efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will become more fully understood from the detaileddescription given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which aregiven by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of thepresent invention and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two electronic devices and a wirelesscharging device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the wireless charging device in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the wireless charging device in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the wireless charging devicein FIG. 3 taken along a line 4-4;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the wireless charging device in FIG.3 taken along a line 5-5;

FIG. 6 shows a simulation diagram of a flow field of an airflow guidedby protrusions of support pads of the wireless charging device in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 7 to 9 are simulation diagrams of pressure, flow field andtemperature distributions of an airflow passing through the wirelesscharging device in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a wireless charging device according to asecond embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 11 is a top view of the wireless charging device in FIG. 10 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation,numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent,however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without thesespecific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devicesare schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing.

In addition, the terms used in the present invention, such as technicaland scientific terms, have its own meanings and can be comprehended bythose skilled in the art, unless the terms are additionally defined inthe present invention. That is, the terms used in the followingparagraphs should be read on the meaning commonly used in the relatedfields and will not be overly explained, unless the terms have aspecific meaning in the present invention.

Refer to FIGS. 1 and 2 , where FIG. 1 is a perspective view of twoelectronic devices 2 and a wireless charging device 1 according to afirst embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded view of thewireless charging device 1 in FIG. 1 .

In this embodiment, the wireless charging device 1 can charge twoelectronic devices 2, where the electronic devices 2 are, for example,smart phones.

Then, refer to FIGS. 2 to 5 , where FIG. 3 is a top view of the wirelesscharging device 1 in FIG. 1 , FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional viewof the wireless charging device 1 in FIG. 3 taken along a line 4-4, andFIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the wireless charging device 1 inFIG. 3 taken along a line 5-5.

The wireless charging device 1 includes a casing 10, a wireless chargingmodule 20 and a fan 30. In addition, the wireless charging device 1 mayfurther include two support pads 40.

The casing 10 includes a base 11 and a cover 12 assembled with eachother. The base 11 and the cover 12 together form an interior space 13.The interior space 13 accommodates the wireless charging module 20 andthe fan 30.

The cover 12 has a support surface 121, a partition bar 122, a stepstructure 124, a plurality of air inlets 125 and a plurality ofwater-proof structures 126. The support surface 121 faces away from theinterior space 13, and the support surface 121 has two placement regions1211. The partition bar 122 protrudes from the support surface 121 andis located between the two placement regions 1211 of the support surface121. The step structure 124 protrudes from the support surface 121, thestep structure 124 has a windward surface 1241, and the windward surface1241 stands on the support surface 121 and faces the placement regions1211. The windward surface 1241 is, for example, perpendicular to thesupport surface 121, but the invention is not limited thereto; in someother embodiments, the windward surface may be at an acute or obtuseangle to the support surface. The air inlets 125 are located at thewindward surface 1241 and in fluid communication with the interior space13. The water-proof structures 126 protrude from the support surface 121and are respectively located in the air inlets 125. Each of thewater-proof structures 126 has an inclined guide surface 1261, and theinclined guide surface 1261 is at an obtuse angle θ1 to the supportsurface 12 l. The obtuse angle θ1, for example, falls within a rangefrom 120 degrees to 150 degrees, but the invention is not limitedthereto.

In this embodiment, the water-proof structures 126 can prevent liquidfrom entering into the interior space 13 through the air inlets 125 toadversely affect the wireless charging module 20 in the interior space13. In addition, the inclined guide surfaces 1261 of the water-proofstructures 126 can guide an external airflow into the interior space 13through the air inlets 125.

Note that the inclined guide surfaces 1261 of the water-proof structures126 are not restricted to being at the obtuse angle θ1 to the supportsurface 121; in some other embodiments, the inclined guide surfaces maybe perpendicular to the support surface. In addition, the water-proofstructures 126 of the cover 12 are optional, and the water-proofstructures 126 of the cover 12 may be omitted when there is no need toprevent water from entering into the interior space 13 through the airinlets 125.

Moreover, the step structure 124 of the cover 12 is optional; in someother embodiments, the cover may not have any step structure, and theair inlets may be directly formed at the support surface of the cover.Furthermore, the quantity of the air inlets 125 is not restricted andmay be modified to be one in some other embodiments. In addition, thepartition bar 122 is an optional structure and may be omitted in someother embodiments.

In this embodiment, the cover 12 may further have an inner top surface127 and a partition 128. The inner top surface 127 faces away from thesupport surface 121. The partition 128 protrudes from the inner topsurface 127 so as to divide the interior space 13 into a drainagechannel 131 and an accommodation area 132, where the air inlets 125 arein fluid communication with the accommodation area 132 via the drainagechannel 131. The accommodation area 132 accommodates the wirelesscharging module 20 and the fan 30.

The base 11 has an inner bottom surface 111, an embankment wall 112, aplurality of drainage holes 113 and an air outlet 114. The inner bottomsurface 111 faces the inner top surface 127, and an opening O is formedbetween the partition 128 of the cover 12 and the inner bottom surface111. The opening O is in fluid communication with the drainage channel131 and the accommodation area 132. The embankment wall 112 protrudesfrom the inner bottom surface 111 and covers the opening O. Theembankment wall 112 divides the inner bottom surface 111 of the base 11into a first region 1111 and a second region 1112. At least part of thefirst region 1111 corresponds to the drainage channel 131, and thesecond region 1112 corresponds to the accommodation area 132. Thedrainage holes 113 are located at the first region 1111 and in fluidcommunication with the drainage channel 131. The first region 1111 hastwo drainage slopes 1113, and each of the drainage slopes 1113 has afirst side 1114 and a second side 1115 located opposite to each other,where a distance T1 from the first side 1114 to the inner top surface127 is smaller than a distance T2 from the second side 1115 to the innertop surface 127. The two drainage slopes 1113 are symmetrical with eachother, and the first sides 1114 of the drainage slopes 1113 are locatedbetween the second sides 1115. The drainage slopes 1113 are locatedbetween some of the drainage holes 113 and the others. In each of thedrainage slopes 1113, the second side 1115 is located between the firstside 1114 and some of the drainage holes 113. The air outlet 114 islocated at the second region 1112 and in fluid communication with theaccommodation area 132.

In this embodiment, the embankment wall 112 can prevent liquid fromdirectly entering into the accommodation area 132 after entering intothe drainage channel 131 through the air inlets 125 and landing on thefirst region 1111, and thus prevent liquid from adversely affecting thewireless charging module 20 and the fan 30 in the accommodation area132.

Moreover, the drainage slopes 1113 help the liquid entering into thedrainage channel 131 through the air inlets 125 and landing on the firstregion 1111 to leave the drainage channel 131 through the drainage holes113 so as to prevent the liquid from accumulating and overflowing theembankment wall 112.

Note that the quantities of the drainage slopes 1113 and the drainageholes 113 are not restricted in the invention and may be modified to beone in some other embodiments. Furthermore, in another embodiment, thebase may not have any drainage slope.

In addition, the partition 128 of the cover 12 and the embankment wall112 and the drainage holes 113 of the base 11 are optional structures.When there is no need to discharge liquid and prevent liquid fromaffecting the wireless charging module 20 and the fan 30, the partition128 of the cover 12 and the embankment wall 112 and the drainage holes113 of the base 11 may be omitted.

The wireless charging module 20 includes a circuit board 21 and two coilassemblies 22. The circuit board 21 is fixed to the base 11, and thecircuit board 21 has a plurality of heat sources 211 located at asurface of the circuit board 21 facing the inner bottom surface 111 ofthe base 11. The heat sources 211 are, for example, electroniccomponents, such as chips. The coil assemblies 22 are fixed to thecircuit board 21 and located at one side of the circuit board 21 fartheraway from the inner bottom surface 111 of the base 11. The coilassemblies 22 respectively correspond to the placement regions 1211 ofthe support surface 121 of the cover 12. The coil assemblies 22 arerespectively configured to charge the electronic devices 2 placed on theplacement regions 1211 via a wireless manner.

The fan 30 is, for example, an axial fan. The fan 30 is fixed to thebase 11 and located at the air outlet 114 of the base 11. An air inletside 31 of the fan 30 is located close to the heat sources 211 of thecircuit board 21, such that the airflow entering into the fan 30 fromthe air inlet side 31 can cool the heat sources 211 of the circuit board21.

The support pads 40 are, for example, made of rubber material. Thesupport pads 40 are respectively disposed on the placement regions 1211of the support surface 121 of the cover 12. The support pads 40 are thesame in structure, and thus the follow descriptions merely introduce oneof them. The support pad 40 has a plurality of protrusions 41. Theprotrusions 41 are configured to support the electronic device 2. Theprotrusions 41 form a plurality of channels 42 towards the air inlets125. Specifically, the protrusions 41 are triangular protrusions andarranged along a first line L1, a second line L2, a third line L3 and afourth line L4 which are parallel to one another, where the first lineL1, the second line L2, the third line L3 and the fourth line L4 areperpendicular to the windward surface 1241, and the second line L2 andthe third line L3 are located between the first line L1 and the fourthline L4. Corners 411 of some the protrusions 41 arranged along the firstline L1 and the third line L3 point towards a first direction D1, andcorners 411 of the others of the protrusions 41 arranged along thesecond line L2 and the fourth line L4 point towards a second directionD2, where the first direction D1 is opposite to the second direction D2.Some of the protrusions 41 arranged along the first line L1 and thesecond line L2 are in a staggered arrangement, and the others of theprotrusions 41 arranged along the third line L3 and the fourth line L4are in a staggered arrangement. The channels 42 (e.g., along a line C1shown in FIG. 3 ) formed by the protrusions 41 each is at an angle θ2 toa normal line N of the windward surface 1241, and the angle θ2 fallswithin a range from 15 degrees to 60 degrees.

In this embodiment, the protrusions 41 can support the electronicdevices 2 and prevent the electronic devices 2 from moving accidentally.In addition, the protrusions 41 can uplift the electronic devices 2,such that, during the operation of the fan 30, the channels 42 formed bythe protrusions 41 can guide the external airflow towards the air inlets125 from the bottoms of the electronic devices 2. Referring to FIG. 6 ,FIG. 6 shows a simulation diagram of a flow field of an airflow guidedby the protrusions 41 of the support pads 40 of the wireless chargingdevices 1 in FIG. 3 , and as can be seen that the velocity of theexternal airflow guided at the bottoms of the electronic devices 2 isabout from 0.05 m/s to 0.1 m/s, such that the airflow can effectivelycools the electronic devices 2. In addition, the velocity of theexternal airflow is larger as closer to the air inlets 125 (e.g., thevelocity of the external airflow near the air inlets is about 0.2 m/s),such that the airflow absorbed heat generated by the electronic devices2 can rapidly flow into the casing 10 through the air inlets 125 andthen leave the casing 10 via the operation of the fan 30.

In addition, since the channels 42 (e.g., along the line C1 shown inFIG. 3 ) formed by the protrusions 41 each is at the angle θ2 to thenormal line N of the windward surface 1241, and the angle θ2 fallswithin the range from 15 degrees to 60 degrees, the interference ofcameras 3 of the electronic devices 2 to the airflow can be reduced.Preferably, the angle θ2 may fall within the range from 15 degrees to 30degrees, which can further reduce the interference of the cameras 3 ofthe electronic devices 2 to the airflow.

Note that the degree of the angle θ2 is not restricted in the inventionand may be modified according to actual requirements. Moreover, theprotrusions 41 are optional structures and may be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 , the arrangements of the protrusions 41 ofthe support pads 40 can minimize the interference of the camera 3 of theelectronic device 2 placed on the left placement region 1211 to theairflow. As for the electronic device 2 placed on the right placementregion 1211, the interference of the camera 3 thereof to the airflow isnot significant, such that the right support pad 40 and the left supportpad 40 may be the same in structure; that is, the two support pads 40are not required to be symmetrical with each other. Therefore, there isno need to produce two support pads with symmetrical structures, therebysaving cost. Note that the support pads 40 are optional and may beomitted.

During the operation of the fan 30, the airflow entering into theinterior space 13 through the air inlets 125 flows to the accommodationarea 132 along the drainage channel 131, such that the airflow can coolthe heat sources 211 of the circuit board 21 and the coil assemblies 22of the wireless charging module 20, thereby maintaining the chargingefficiency. Then, the fan 30 blows air out of the accommodation area132, where the pressure, flow field and the temperature distributions ofthe airflow passing through the wireless charging device 1 are shown inFIGS. 7 to 9 . As shown in FIG. 7 , the pressure is larger as closer tothe fan 30, and the pressure is largest at the place where the fan 30 islocated (e.g., 25.2 Pa). As can be seen in FIG. 8 that the airflowfirstly passes by the electronic devices 2 and then the wirelesscharging module 20, and the velocities of the airflow when passing bythe electronic devices 2 and the wireless charging module 20 are small,such that the airflow can effectively cool the electronic devices 2 andthe wireless charging module 20. As the airflow flows closer to the fan30, the velocity of the airflow is larger so as to be rapidly leave thecasing 10. As can be seen from FIG. 9 , the temperatures of theelectronic devices 2 (e.g., the middle portions and the portions locatedaway from the air inlets 125) and the wireless charging module 20 arerelatively high (e.g., about 50° C.), and the temperatures of the restparts are relatively low.

Accordingly, the windward surface 1241 where the air inlets 125 arelocated faces the placement regions 1211 for the electronic devices 2 toplaced thereon; that is, the placement regions 1211 for the electronicdevices 2 to be placed thereon are located at one side of the air inlets125, such that when the fan 30 sucks air into the interior space 13through the air inlets 125, the airflow can firstly pass by theelectronic devices 2 to cool the electronic devices 2, then the airflowenters into the interior space 13 to cool the wireless charging module20. Therefore, the electronic devices 2 and the wireless charging device1 can be maintained in desired temperatures for maintaining the chargingefficiency.

Note that the quantities of the placement regions 1211 and the coilassemblies 22 are not restricted in the invention and may be modified tobe one.

Then, refer to FIGS. 10 and 11 , where FIG. 10 is an exploded view of awireless charging device 1 a according to a second embodiment of theinvention, and FIG. 11 is a top view of the wireless charging device 1 ain FIG. 10 .

The wireless charging device 1 a of this embodiment is similar to thewireless charging device 1 introduced with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 ,and the differences between them is mainly the structure of the supportpad. The following paragraphs merely introduce a support pad 40 a of thewireless charging device 1 a of this embodiment in detail, and the sameparts between the wireless charging devices 1 a and 1 will not berepeatedly introduced hereinafter.

In this embodiment, protrusions 41 a of the support pad 40 a areinclined elongated protrusions, and each channel 42 a is formed betweenadjacent two of the protrusions 41 a. The channels 42 a (e.g., along aline C2 shown in FIG. 11 ) formed by the protrusions 41 a each is at anangle θ3 to a normal line N of the windward surface 1241 a of a cover 12a, and the angle θ3 falls within a range from 15 degrees to 60 degrees.Preferably, the angle θ3 may fall within a range from 15 degrees to 30degrees.

According to the wireless charging devices as disclosed in the aboveembodiments, the placement regions for the electronic devices to beplaced thereon are located at one side of the air inlets, such that whenthe fan sucks air into the interior space through the air inlets, theairflow can firstly pass by the electronic devices to cool theelectronic devices, then the airflow enters into the interior space tocool the wireless charging module. Therefore, the electronic devices andthe wireless charging device can be maintained in desired temperaturesfor maintaining the charging efficiency.

In one embodiment of the invention, the wireless charging device may beapplied in a vehicle, such as self-driving vehicle, electric vehicle, orsemi-self-driving vehicle.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the present invention. It isintended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplaryembodiments only, with a scope of the invention being indicated by thefollowing claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless charging device, configured to chargeat least one electronic device, comprising: a casing, having an interiorspace, at least one air inlet, an air outlet and a support surface,wherein the at least one air inlet and the air outlet are in fluidcommunication with the interior space, the support surface faces awayfrom the interior space, the support surface has at least one placementregion, the at least one placement region is located at one side of theat least one air inlet, and the at least one placement region isconfigured for the at least one electronic device to be placed thereon;a wireless charging module, disposed in the interior space andcorresponding to the at least one placement region; and a fan, disposedin the interior space and configured to suck air into the interior spacethrough the at least one air inlet and blow air out of the interiorspace through the air outlet.
 2. The wireless charging device accordingto claim 1, wherein the casing has an inner top surface, an inner bottomsurface and a partition, the inner top surface faces away from thesupport surface, the inner bottom surface faces the inner top surface,the partition protrudes from the inner top surface so as to divide theinterior space into a drainage channel and an accommodation area, thecasing further has at least one drainage hole, the at least one drainagehole is located at the inner bottom surface, the at least one air inletand the at least one drainage hole is in fluid communication with thedrainage channel, the air outlet is located at the inner bottom surfaceand in fluid communication with the accommodation area, and at leastpart of the wireless charging module and the fan are located in theaccommodation area.
 3. The wireless charging device according to claim2, wherein an opening is formed between the partition and the innerbottom surface, the casing further has an embankment wall, theembankment wall protrudes from the inner bottom surface, and theembankment wall covers the opening.
 4. The wireless charging deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein the embankment wall divides the innerbottom surface into a first region and a second region, at least part ofthe first region corresponds to the drainage channel, the second regioncorresponds to the accommodation area, the first region has at least onedrainage slope, the at least one drainage slope has a first side and asecond side located opposite to each other, a distance from the firstside to the inner top surface is smaller than a distance from the secondside to the inner top surface, and the second side is located betweenthe first side and the at least one drainage hole.
 5. The wirelesscharging device according to claim 4, wherein the quantity of the atleast one drainage hole and the quantity of the at least one drainageslope both are two, the two drainage slopes are symmetrical to eachother, and the two drainage slopes are located between the two drainageholes.
 6. The wireless charging device according to claim 1, wherein thecasing has a step structure, the step structure protrudes from thesupport surface, the step structure has a windward surface, the windwardsurface stands on the support surface, and the at least one air inlet islocated at the windward surface.
 7. The wireless charging deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein the casing has at least one water-proofstructure, the at least one water-proof structure protrudes from thesupport surface and is located in the at least one air inlet.
 8. Thewireless charging device according to claim 7, wherein the quantities ofthe at least one air inlet and at least one water-proof structure areplural, and the water-proof structures are respectively located in theair inlets.
 9. The wireless charging device according to claim 7,wherein the at least one water-proof structure has an inclined guidesurface, and the inclined guide surface is at an obtuse angle to thesupport surface.
 10. The wireless charging device according to claim 9,wherein the obtuse angle falls within a range from 120 degrees to 150degrees.
 11. The wireless charging device according to claim 6, whereinthe quantity of the at least one placement region is two, the twoplacement regions are respectively configured for two electronic devicesto be placed thereon, and the windward surface faces the two placementregions.
 12. The wireless charging device according to claim 11, whereinthe casing further has a partition bar, and the partition bar protrudesfrom the support surface and is located between the two placementregions.
 13. The wireless charging device according to claim 6, whereinthe windward surface is perpendicular to the support surface.
 14. Thewireless charging device according to claim 1, wherein the wirelesscharging module comprises a circuit board and at least one coilassembly, the circuit board is located closer to the fan than the atleast one coil assembly, the circuit board has at least one heat source,and the at least one heat source is located close to an air inlet sideof the fan.
 15. The wireless charging device according to claim 1,further comprising at least one support pad, wherein the at least onesupport pad is disposed in the at least one placement region.